Molded bottle caps with integral valve structure



Feb. 1, 1966 3,232,499

MOLDED BOTTLE CAPS WITH INTEGRAL VALVE STRUCTURE V. J. ESPOSITO, JR

2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed March 21, 1963 INVENTOR. V/A/afA/T J BPas/m, Je

Feb. 1, 1966 3,232,499

MOLDED BOTTLE CAPS WITH INTEGRAL VALVE STRUCTURE V. J. ESPOSITO, JR

2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed March 21, 1963 2 g/ mvamozz V/A/c 6M v- 3M United States Patent 3,232,49fi MOLDED BOTTLE CAPS WITH INTEGRAL VALVE STRUCTURE Vincent J. Esposito, J22, Wayne, N.J., assignor to Fore Company, Inc, Wayne, NJ, a corporation 01' New Jersey Filed Mar. 21, 1963, Ser. No. 267,393 16 Claims. (Cl. 222-499) This invention relates to closures for bottles and the like containers and more particularly is directed to molded caps of elastomeric plastic resinous material having integral valve means for selectively dispensing fiuid contents and sealing the container.

Among the objects of the invention is to generally improve plastic molded caps of the character described, which shall comprise a sin le, unitary, integral, molded piece of elastomeric material, which shall be economical to manufacture in quantity production by modern molding methods, which shall provide a resilient top wall with a conduit for dispensing the fiuid contents of a container and a valve structure incorporated in said top wall to selectively open and close the conduit on deflection of the top wall from a concave to a relatively fiat or conex position, which valve structure in one form may be operated by engagement between the cap top Wall structure and the lip of the container on relative movement of the cap with respect to the neck of the container or, in another form, 'by manipulation of the cap top wall structure through an exterior finger grip projection, which conduit may be initially provided with an integral tip closure of the snipotl type to seal the container for shipping but which conduit in normal household use after removal of the tip closure shall require solely the integral valve structure for normal sealing to prevent accidental spilling and the like, which shall be foolproof in operation, practical and elficient to a high degree in use.

Other objects of the invention will in part be obvious and in part hereinafter pointed out.

The invention accordingly consists of features of constructions, combinations of elements and arrangements of parts which will be exemplified in the constructions hereinafter disclosed, the scope of the application of which will be indicated in the claims following.

In the accompanying drawings in which various embodiments of the invention are shown:

H6. 1 is a fragmentary elevational view of an upper portion of a bottle fitted with a screw-on cap constructed to embody the invention, the snip-off tip being shown in broken lines.

FIG. 2 is an enlarged bottom view of the cap shown in FIG. I removed from the bottle and showing the interior construction with the valve in open position in full lines and indicated in closed position by broken lines.

FIG. 3 is a vertical sectional View taken along line 3-3 in FIG. 2.

FIG. 4 is a vertical sectional view taken along line 44 in FIG. 1 and through toggle bosses showing the valve in open position.

FIG. 5 is a vertical sectional View taken through the toggle bosses similar to FlG. 4 after the cap is rotated on the bottle neck raising the concave top wall to effect the valve closure.

FIG. 6 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional View taken similar to FIG. 4 showing a relatively permanent bottle neck and cap connection of the snap-on type, the cap having a modified construction formed for valve actuation by manipulation of an exterior delivery spout stem,

' the valve being shown in open position.

FIG. 7 is a sectional view of the bottle neck and cap in FIG. 6 with the valve shown in closed position, and

ice

FIG. 8 is a sectional view taken on line 8-8 in FIG. 6 showing the modified valve structure in open position.

Referring in detail to the drawing 10 generally denotes a capped receptacle for liquids comprising bottle 11 having a neck 12 fitted with a valved closure and dispensing cap 13 constructed to embody the invention. Bottle 11 may be made of glass, metal or the like material but is here shown as preferably made of a suitable resinous plastic, such as, a polyolefin, polyvinyl or the like to provide a flexible walled, relatively unbreakable squeeze type bottle, neck 12 being formed with conventional external threads 12a.

Cap 13 may be molded as an integral unit of a suitable material having elastomeric properties, such as, rubber, polyolefins, polyvinyls, polyurethanes and the like, to comprise a tubular skirt 14 having internal threads 14a for engaging external threads 12a of bottle neck 12 and a top closure wall 15 terminating the upper end of skirt 14 having an axially disposed spout 16 through which conduit 16:: extends terminated by a conventional snip-01f closed tip 161).

An integral valve structure is provided in cap 13 selectively operable by means of a toggle action incorporated in top closure wall 15. To this end, as is clear from FIGS. 2 and 3, top wall 15 is molded into a generally concave contour having an outer annular area 15a and an inner circular area 15b. Annular area 15a is shaped to slope downwardly toward the center of wall 15 providing substantially all the concavity thereof. Inner circular area 15!) may be substantially flat when top wall 15 is in its normal configuration and the valve structure, which is hereinafter more fully described, is in its open position.

hi the embodiment of the invention shown in FIGS. 1 to 5, inclusive, the integral valve structure is seen to comprise a downward interior extension 160 of spout 16 and a pair of toggle bosses 15c symmetrically formed to extend downwardly from the interior surface of inner circular area 1512 along a diameter thereof spaced on opposite sides of spout interior extension 160. The latter, for the purpose hereinafter described, may have a wall thinner than that of spout 16 and may terminate in a feathered edge 16d. Toggle bosses have interior facing surfaces 15d formed with edges 15a spaced from top wall 15 to provide a pair of pinche'rs for clamping the feathered edge 16c of spout interior extension 16b, as is clear from FIGS. 2 and 5.

In order to improve the seal between cap 15 and bottle neck 12 and prevent leakage of the fluid contents through the threaded interconnection therebetween, a circular concentric flange 15 having a base shoulder 15g may be formed to extend downwardly from the interior surface of top wall 15 and is positioned to abut the interior surface of neck 12 with base shoulder 15g engaging the mouth thereof. Where the mouth of bottle neck 12 is formed with an interior bevel 12c, base shoulder 15g may like wise be beveled to conform thereto as is clear from FIGS. 3, 4 and 5.

Suitable limiting and relatively permanent retaining means may be incorporated in neck 12 and skirt 14 to insure proper engagement between flange 15 base shoulder 15g and the mouth of neck 12 when the valve structure is in the open position shown in FIG. 4 and also to prevent inadvertent removal of cap 13 from neck 12. Such limiting and retaining means may be a tongue and groove arrangement shown in FIGS. 4 and 5 as an eX- terior flange 12b extending laterally from a lower portion of neck 12 and engaging a relatively wide groove 14c provided on the interior of ski-rt 14 spaced adjacent the lower open end thereof.

The operation of capped receptacle will now be apparent. After cap 13 is molded into the one piece integral structure hereinbefore described and bottle 11 is filled with aliquid contents, such as, for example, a fluid detergent, polish, cleaner, bleach, water conditioner, lotion, food product or other household product and the like, cap 13 with closed tip 16b is forced and threaded onto neck 12 so that threads 12a and 14a interengage and flange 12b seats in groove 14c to properly close bottle 11 for shipping and handling purposes. With closed tip 16b terminating spout 16, capped receptacle 10 may be shipped and stored with the integral valve structure in open position. As shown in FIG. 4, when top Wall is in a normally convex configuration with the valve in said open position, flange 12b abuts the bottom side wall of groove 14c and coacts to position flange 15 and base shoulder 15g in proper sealing engagement with the mouth of neck 12 preventing leakage and evaporation of the fluid contents through the threaded interconnection.

The consumer by merely snipping off closed tip 16b may dispense the fluid contents of bottle 11 through conduit 16a of spout 16 without removing cap 13. Where bottle 11 is of the squeeze bottle type, the exertion of pressure on the walls thereof will aid in dispensing the fluid content. There-after, to seal off spout 16, cap 13 is merely tightened on neck 12 by rotating the former in the conventional clockwise direction. Rotation of cap 13 approximately /2 turn, that is, about 180 will lower cap 13 on neck 12 from the position shown in FIG. 4 to that shown in FIG. 5, the width of groove 14c allowing for the relative movement of flange 12b therein. In so doing, top wall 15 is sprung by the mouth of neck 12 from a concave configuration to a raised, substantially flat disposition with normally concave outer circular area 15a flattened and inner circular area 15b slightly bowed outwardly, that is, slightly convex to bring the interior facing surfaces 15d of toggle bosses 15c into angular relation so that edges 15e thereof pinch off downward interior extension 16c of spout 16. Capped receptacle 10 is now sealed for household purposes against spilling by accidental tipping and against normal evaporation.

It will thus be apparent that liquid contents may be dispensed from bottle 11 without removal of cap 13 from neck 12, spout 16 being selectively opened and closed by the rotation of cap 13 with respect to neck 12 through approximately /2 turn, the coaction of groove 140 with flange 12b limiting the loosening of cap 13 on neck 12 to a predetermined position. Where more freedom of movement is desired flange 12b and groove 140 may be omitted.

A partial diaphragm action is initiated by the raising of top wall 15 to increase the effective area thereof thereby stretching the upper rim 14b of skirt 14. The elastomeric properties of the material acts to return the skirt upper rim 14b and the top wall 15 to their normal configurations upon rotation of cap 13 in a counterclockwise direction to the position shown in FIG. 4.

If so desired cap 13 may be molded with an open ended spout 16, that is, without snip-off closed tip 16b in which case any suitable small throw-away cap or stopper may be used to initially seal off the upper delivery end of conduit 16a or capped receptacle 10 may be shipped and stored with the valve in the closed position shown in FIG. 5.

Although downward interior extension 16c of spout 16 may be greater in length and/ or wall thickness than shown in the drawings, a reduction in wall thickness correspondingly reduces the required constricting force while application of a constricting force adjacent an end of the tubular structure of extension 16c rather than in a midportion thereof has been found also to reduce the constricting force requirements. Thus, using a minimum wall thickne s for extension 16c and applying the constricting force close to the feathered edge 16d contribute to a satisfactory, practical and efficient valve structure.

A modified form of the invention is shown in FIGS. 6, 7 and 8 as capped receptacle 20 comprising a bottle 21 having neck 22 fitted with cap 23, the latter having a tubular skirt 24 formed with an interior seat 24a sized and shaped to snugly receive neck 22. A suitable snapon tongue and groove interconnection may be provided for retaining cap 23 on neck 22, as for example, annular boss 22a engaging interior annular groove 24b provided in skirt 24.

Cap 23 may be molded in a manner similar to cap 13 to comprise a skirt 24 and a top closure wall 25 having an axially disposed stem 26, through which conduit 26a extends providing a dispensing spout for cap 23, terminated by a snip-off closed tip 26b. Stem 26 may be made slightly longer than spout 16 for manual operation thereby of the diaphragm action incorporated in top wall 25 and may be formed with an annular protuberance 26c adjacent the free end thereof to facilitate finger gripping and manipulation.

Top Wall 25 is molded similar to top wall 15 of cap 13 with an outer annular area 25a and an inner circular area 25b but, in order to be self sustaining in the closed position in the manner hereinafter more fully described and shown in FIG. 7, has an annular groove 25 defining a thin walled bendable structure between outer annular area 25a and skirt 24.

In the embodiment of the invention shown in FIGS. 6, 7 and 8, the integral valve structure is seen to comprise a pair of toggle bosses 25c symmetrically formed to extend downwardly from the interior surface of inner circular area 2511 along a diameter thereof. Each of the toggle bosses 250 has an abutment joint surface 25d disposed in angular relation to and joining with each other along a pivotal axis 25c when top wall 25 is in a concave configuration so that abutment joint surfaces 25d form extensions of stem 26 on the interior of wall 25 with conduit 26a communicating with the interior of cap 23. Surfaces 25d may be abraded to improve the sealing quality of the abutment joint.

The total diaphragm action of top Wall 25 and associated operation of toggle bosses 250 to effect selective opening and closing of conduit 26a will now be apparent. The exertion of an upward pull on stem 26 deforms top wall 25 first into a flattened condition and then into the convex configuration shown in FIG. 7, flexure being facilitated by annular groove 25 whereby abutment joint surfaces 25d of toggle bosses 25c pivoting along 25e are brought together in face to face relation to close conduit 26a. In order to either open or close abutment joint surfaces 25d, top wall 25 is deformed, that is, sprung in a diaphragm action from a concave to a convex condition or vice versa. Force applied through manual pulling or pushing of stem 26 to respectively close or open conduit 26a causes top wall 25 to flatten initially, increasing its effective area and resiliently stretching the upper rim 24c 0f skirt 24. The resiliency of rim 24c and the curved contour of outer annular area 25a cooperate to retain top wall 25 in either extreme concave or convex configuration. When in the convex configuration shown in FIG. 7, suflicient stress is applied on toggle bosses 250 to maintain an effective closure. It will also be clear from FIG. 7 that any outward pressure of the fluid contents as may be applied by tipping or inverting of capped receptacle 20 increases the pressure acting to seal the joint between surfaces 25d.

It is intended in practicing the invention, when desirable, to utilize the pinch type valve: comprising a downward interior extension having constricting toggle bosses similar to spout extension 16c and bosses in a self sustaining stem actuated top wall structure similar to top wall 25 and to also utilize the abutment joint type valve with surfaces similar to abutment joint surfaces 25d in a bottle mouth actuated top wall structure similar to top wall 15.

It is thus seen that there are provided molded bottle caps with integral valve structures whereby the several objects of this invention are achieved and which are well adapted to meet the conditions of practical use.

As various possible embodiments might be made of the above invention, and as various changes might be made in the embodiments above set forth, it is to be understood that all matters herein set forth or shown in the accompanying drawing are to be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.

Having thus described my invention, I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent:

1. A bottle cap of the character described molded as an integral structure of elastomeric material comprising a skirt for fitting over a neck of a bottle, a top wall terminating an upper end of the skirt for extending across a mouth of the bottle neck and having a protruding stem formed with a bore providing a dispensing spout for fluid contents of the bottle, said stem and bore extending below the top wall into the interior of the cap, said top wall being molded into a normally substantially curved configuration and being resiliently deformable into a second predetermined configuration, a pair of spaced toggle bosses positioned on the top wall on opposite sides of said interior stem extension, said toggle bosses having opposing portions positioned to be brought together and clampingly constrict said interior stem extension closing said bore when the top wall is deformed into said second predetermined configuration.

2. The bottle cap defined in claim 1 in which said interior stem extension is formed with a feathered edge and said clamping constriction is aplied by said opposing toggle boss portions adjacent said edge.

3. In combination with a bottle neck having a mouth and external threads, a dispensing and sealing cap threaded on said neck, said cap being integrally formed as a unitary structure of elastomeric material having a top wall extending across the mouth in abutment therewith and having an axially disposed conduit therethrough for dispensing fiuid contents from the bottle, said top wall being molded into an annular area concentric with a cent-ral circular area shaped to provide a normally substantially concave configuration and being resiliently deformable into a substantially convex configuration by said mouth on tightening the cap, valve means on the interior of said circular area responsive to said top wall deformation to open said conduit when the top wall is in said normal concave configuration and to close the conduit upon tightening the cap on the neck whereby the mouth deforms the top wall to said convex configuration.

4. The combination defined in claim 3 in which said conduit has an interior tubular extension, and said valve means includes a pair of spaced toggle bosses symmetrically arranged on opposite sides of said conduit interior extension, said toggle bosses having opposing edges positioned to be brought together and clampingly constiict said conduit interior extension in said closed position.

5. The combination defined in claim 3 in which said valve means includes a pair of toggle bosses symmetrically arranged on opposite sides of said conduit, each boss having an abutment joint surface disposed in angular relation to and joining with each other along a pivotal axis when said top wall is in said concave open position, said abutment joint surfaces being constructed and arranged to pivot with respect to each other along said axis and be brought together in abutment in said closed position.

6. The combination defined in claim 3 including an auxiliary seal between said top wall and mouth formed as a circular flange concentric with said annular and circular areas and extending into the mouth opening in abutment with the interior surface of the neck, said auxiliary seal being effective in both said open and closed valve positions to prevent leakage between said threads.

7 A bottle cap of the character described molded as an integral structure-of elastomeric material comprising a skirt for fitting over and sealingly interconnecting with a neck of a bottle, a top wall terminating an upper end of the skirt having a protruding axial stem formed with a bore providing a dispensing spout for fluid contents of the bottle and being of a length for finger grip manipulation, said top wall being molded into a normally concave configuration and having an annular groove defining a thin walled bendable structure adjacent the skirt to permit diaphragm action of the top wall to a convex configuration, valve means on the interior of said top wall responsive to said diaphragm action to open said bore when the top wall is in said concave configuration and to close the bore when the top wall is deformed by pulling up on said stem to said convex configuration.

8. The bottle cap defined in claim 7 in which said top wall is formed with an annular area concentric with a central circular area, said annular groove being located on the periphery of said annular area, said stem having an interior tubular extension, said valve means including a pair of spaced toggle bosses extending from the central area symmetrically arranged on opposite sides of said stem interior extension, said toggle bosses having opposing edges positioned to be brought together and clampingly constrict said stem interior extension in said closed convex position.

9. The bottle cap defined in claim 7 in which said top wall is formed with an annular area concentric with a central circular area, said annular groove being located on the periphery of said annular area, said valve means including a pair of toggle bosses extending from the central area symmetrically arranged on opposite sides of the bore of said stem, each boss having an abutment joint surface disposed in angular relation to and joining with each other along a pivotal axis when said top wall is in said concave open position, said abutment joint surfaces being constructed and arranged to pivot with respect to each other along said axis and be brought together in abutment in said closed convex position.

10. A bottle cap of the character described having a top wall formed with a central axially extending stern formed with a bore providing a dispensing spout for fluid contents of the bottle and being of a length for finger grip manipulation, said top Wall being molded to selectively assume by diaphragm action a concave and a convex configuration upon application of a motivating force to said stem, valve means integrally formed on the interior of said top wall responsive to said diaphragm action to open the spout when the top wall is in said concave c-onfiguration and to close the spout when the top wall is moved to said convex configuration.

11. In combination with a bottle neck having a mouth, a dispensing and sealing cap having a skirt mounted on said neck for relative axial movement, said cap being formed of elastomeric material and having a top wall extending across the mouth in abutment therewith, said top wall having an axially disposed conduit therethrough for dispensing fluid contents from the bottle and being molded into a normally substantially concave configuration, said top wall being resiliently deformable into a second predetermined configuration by pressure of the mouth on axial movement of the cap, valve means integrally formed on the interior of said top wall responsive to said de formation to open said conduit when the top wall is in said concave configuration and to close said conduit when the top wall is moved to said second predetermined configuration, said top Wall having an auxiliary sealing means for preventing leakage between the neck and cap abutting said mouth in both axial positions of said cap, and means coacting between said neck and cap to limit said aixal movement and retain said auxiliary sealing means in a sealed abutment relation with said mouth.

12. The combination defined in claim 11 in which said auxiliary. sealing means includes a circular flange ex- 7 tending into the mouth opening in abutment with the interior surface of the neck.

13. The combination defined in claim 11 including a threaded interconnection between said cap and neck to effect said axial movement on rotation of the cap on said neck.

14. The combination defined in claim 11 in which said axial movement limiting means comprises a tongue and groove interengagement between said skirt and neck.

15. A bottle cap of the character described molded as an integral structure of elastomeric material comprising a skirt for fitting over a neck of a bottle, a top wall terminating an upper end of the skirt for extending across a mouth of the bottle neck and having a conduit therethrough for dispensing fluid contents from the bottle, said top wall being molded to assume a normal concave configuration and being deformable by diaphragm action into a convex configuration, a pair of spaced toggle bosses positioned on said top Wall to open said conduit when the top wall is in said concave configuration and having cooperating portions adapted to be brought together to References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,193,517 3/1940 Lindstrom 222-490 2,665,826 1/1954 Mahoney 222-52O X 2,886,219 5/1959 Van Baarn 222499 X 3,095,175 6/1963 Iketani 251-4 LOUIS J. DEMBO, Primary Examiner.

HADD S. LANE, RAPHAEL M. LUPO, Examiners. 

1. A BOTTLE CAP OF THE CHARACTER DESCRIBED MOLDED AS AN INTEGRAL STRUCTURE OF ELASTOMERIC MATERIAL COMPRISING A SKIRT FOR FITTING OVER A NECK OF A BOTTLE, A TOP WALL TERMINATING AN UPPER END OF THE SKIRT FOR EXTENDING ACROSS A MOUTH OF THE BOTTLE NECK AND HAVING A PROTRUDING STEM FORMED WITH A BORE PROVIDING A DISPENSING SPOUT FOR FLUID CONTENTS OF THE BOTTLE, SAID STEM AND BORE EXTENDING BELOW THE TOP WALL INTO THE INTERIOR OF THE CAP, SAID TOP WALL BEING MOLDED INTO A NORMALLY SUBSTANTIALLY CURVED CONFIGURATION AND BEING RESILIENTLY DEFORMABLE INTO A SECOND PREDETERMINED CONFIGURATION, A PAIR OF SPACED TOGGLE BOSSES POSITIONED ON THE TOP WALL ON OPPOSITE SIDES OF SAID INTERIOR STEM EXTENSION, SAID TOGGLE BOSSES HAVING OPPOSING PORTIONS POSITIONED TO BE BROUGHT TOGETHER AND CLAMPINGLY CONSTRICT SAID INTERIOR STEM EXTENSION CLOSING SAID BORE WHEN THE TOP WALL IS DEFORMED INTO SAID SECOND PREDETERMINED CONFIGURATION. 